Teen nabbed for stealing car of SSS VP in 2011 back in jail

A teenager who was arrested for car theft with his father in 2011 ended up in jail again Thursday for the same offense in Quezon City.

Mark Joseph Reyes Jr., 19, was apprehended at the corner of Cuenco and Banawe Streets while driving a white Honda Civic sedan, which turned out to be registered to Gatsby Fay Balanay, 27, of Sampaloc, Manila.

Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, La Loma police station commander, said Mark Joseph was arrested two years ago with father, Reyes Sr., for allegedly stealing the black Toyota Fortuner of then Social Security System Vice President Alfredo Villasanta.

The father posted bail for that case but the son was not charged since he was then a minor.

This year, the younger Reyes was again linked to the carjacking of a white Ford Escape in Cubao on May 30, wherein he allegedly posed as an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

De Guzman said the Honda Civic, which originally had the license plate WCG 898, was recognized for its sticker design on the hood and trunk by Balanay’s uncle as it passed at the street corner.

The uncle then told Balanay about the sighting and the latter sought help from the La Loma police station to have the vehicle intercepted.

The car sported a new license plate—WRK 718—but the chassis number and the engine number confirmed that it was Balanay’s, the police officer said. Julie M. Aurelio